Stark County Health Care Coalition, dedicated to the containment of health care costs in Stark County, was established in 1983 by nine of the county’s largest employers. William Wilson, Executive Secretary of the Stark County Foundation, and the chief executive officers of Controlled Power Corporation, Diebold, Inc. The Hoover Company, Nationwide Insurance Company, Ohio Power Company, Sugardale Foods, Inc. The Timken Company, Unimet and White Engines, Inc., realizing the need for an effective cost control program, facilitated the formation of the Coalition.

In its initial year, the Coalition was comprised of 25 companies, representing over 20,000 employees.

Martha DuShaw, Ph.D. was the founding Executive Director.

Founded the Community Health Care Advisory Committee.

Began work to provide access to health care coverage to uninsured and underinsured in the community.

The C.A.Re.S. Project (Community Alternatives to Reduce Cost Shifting Program) continues as a main focus area for the organization.

Continued participation in community, regional and statewide health planning activities.

Aggressive membership expansion program to broaden base in the community.

Virginia Neutzling, R.N., M.Ed. named second executive director for the organization.

Established a committee of business and community leaders to solidify and continue work to address the uninsured.

Continued significant participation and leadership in the Northeast Ohio Wellness Committee.

Received a grant for $750K from the Ohio Department of Health for the Stark County Health Care for the Uninsured Worker Project. The grant funding was for two years.

One of 10 associate founding members of the National Business Coalition Forum nka National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

Formalized a PPA (Preferred Provider Agreement) with one hospital.

Launched The Basic Health Plan of Greater Stark County to provide access to health care coverage for uninsured workers. Support and participation of four hospitals in Stark County: Doctors Hospital, Timken Mercy Medical Center, Massillon Community and Alliance Community. Affiliated with the Ohio Health Choice Plan network of physicians. Professional Claims Management became the third-party administrator.

A JPP (Joint Purchasing Program) was implemented January 1, 1991 with Doctors Hospital and Timken Mercy Medical Center that included special rates for health care services provided by these two local hospitals.

Grant funding for the Health Care for the Uninsured ended June 30, 1991. A total of 118 employees with 137 dependents, equaling 255 covered lives were protected under the plan. Discussions took place to identify an insurance company that could assume The Basic Plan into its product line and was assumed as a fully insured product of National Life Insurance Company July 1, 1991.

Five member organizations participated in the JPP (Joint Purchasing Program) during the first year (1991).

As a fully insured product line of Nationwide Life Insurance Company, The Basic Health Plan had 194 employees enrolled in the plan, with 445 covered lives. The Basic Plan continued to offer self-employed and small business a cost-effective health benefit plan.

The 10 year milestone anniversary for The Stark County Health Care Coalition!

Entered into an agreement with Medco Containment Services to provide prescription drug services to participating companies.

Christopher Goff becomes 3rd Executive Director of The Stark County Health Care Coalition.

Professional Claims Management, Incorporated, together with insurance Dentists of America, were selected to develop a managed dental program.

Managed Health Network selected at Behavioral Health Vendor following extensive RFP process.

Name changed to The Community Healthcare Coalition.

Began group purchasing for pharmacy benefits with CVS Health.

Employers Health Purchasing Corporation of Ohio (EHPCO) established as a subsidiary of The Community Healthcare Coalition to facilitate purchasing programs and data measurement initiatives.

Caremark and iScribe collaborate with EHPCO to introduce area physicians to electronic prescribing.

Launched Refuse to Misuse, an antibiotic resistance awareness campaign.

Akron/Canton Diabetes Collaborative established.

Published first Consumer Guide to Hospital Quality (which ultimately was published for 5 consecutive years).

Launched Control Your Diabetes for Life, a multimedia effort aimed at improving the quality of diabetes care management.

Moved to new Canton Office.

Implemented a Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP) through Bridges to Excellence.

Launched Know Your Numbers, an initiative outlining the numbers individuals should know to control and maintain good health.

Celebrated 25th Anniversary!

Columbus, Ohio office opened.

Hosted a first-of-its-kind Symposium on Health Care Policy Reform in partnership with the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and Schottenstein Zox & Dunn, in Columbus, OH.

Merged with Employer Healthcare Alliance, Cincinnati, OH.

Dropped “Ohio” from name to establish organization as a national coalition.

Added preferred medical vendor, Aetna to group purchasing offerings.

Added second PBM offering, SXC Health Solutions, which was renamed Catamran Corporation and shortly thereafter acquired by UnitedHealth Group and now operates as OptumRx.

Right Direction, an initiative to address depression in the workplace, was formed.

Celebrated 30th anniversary!

Hosted 15th Annual Employer Symposium.

Produced first Employers Health & Wealth Administrator Workshop, designed to increase awareness of laws, rules, regulations and recent changes in employee benefit plans.

New headquarters opened in Canton, Ohio.

Reached $1 billion in pharmacy spend.

UnitedHealthcare added as preferred medical provider.

Elixir added to PBM group purchasing program.

Right Direction gets a face-lift.